Behavior of second order phase transitions at a quantum critical point

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nature of second order phase transitions at a quantum critical point in YbRh2Si2, revealing a transition to first order behavior under magnetic field and explaining it via fermion condensation quantum phase transition.

Contribution

It demonstrates the violation of critical universality in second order phase transitions due to fermion condensation quantum phase transition.

Findings

Critical exponent alpha=0.38 differs from fluctuation theory prediction.

Transition changes from second to first order at tricritical point under magnetic field.

Landau theory predicts alpha=1/2 near tricritical point, matching measurements.

Abstract

Low-temperature specific-heat measurements on YbRh2Si2 at the second order antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transition reveal a sharp peak at TN=72 mK. The corresponding critical exponent alpha turns out to be alpha=0.38, which differs significantly from that obtained within the framework of the fluctuation theory of second order phase transitions based on the scale invariance, where alpha=0.1. We show that under the application of magnetic field the curve of the second order AF phase transitions passes into a curve of the first order ones at the tricritical point leading to a violation of the critical universality of the fluctuation theory. This change of the phase transition is generated by the fermion condensation quantum phase transition. Near the tricritical point the Landau theory of second order phase transitions is applicable and gives alpha=1/2. We demonstrate that this value of alpha is in good agreement with the specific-heat measurements.